Lure and Loathing: 2essays on Race, Identity, and the Ambivalence of Assimilation

Lure and Loathing is an intriguing look at how black people see the idea of their own race. Starting from W.E.B. DuBois' quote about the concept of "double-consciousness," prominent black intellectuals and scholars write about their personal and professional experiences with being black in American society. They both agree and disagree on points, focus upon different aspects of race, and relate highly personal events. Although the book does not lead to any one conclusion, it illustrates the tensions still associated with race today: we have admitted that race is a social construction but this concept of human creation has real impact on society. The book's essays ask questions about different controversies within the black community over what it means to be black, such as Afrocentrism, authenticity and legitimacy, cultural questions,affirmative action, etc.